Remember when: Monessen Marches on, 97-61

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By JEFF OLIVER
PIAA Class A quarterfinal
Monessen vs. Elderton
March 18, 1988
It is said that the month of March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.
For the Monessen Greyhounds, their month of March has been exactly the opposite. The Greyhounds started the month playing like a lamb as they were knocked from the WPIAL Class A playoffs. But in the PIAA tourney, they are roaring like a hungry lion.
And they are a game away from proving that they are indeed the king of the West’s beasts.
Last night at Greensburg Salem, the streaking Greyhounds too no prisoners against WPIAL runner-up Elderton, literally running the Bobcats out of the gym, 97-61.
“We play. I mean, we played hard,” said an emotional Monessen head coach Joe Salvino said. “That was 120 percent out of everybody. It was a total team effort. It was unbelievable. They play, they played their hearts out.”
That the Greyhounds did. All the way down the line.
Mike Bright, who has been the biggest lion of the all in the playoffs, had his second straight four-dunk performance. He had 21 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots.
Jimbo Malinchak, who scored 11 points in the first quarter, finished with a team-high 23 points and hit all eight of his free throws.
Chad Scott, who had been a slow starter out of the gate most of the season, scored 10 points in the second quarter and finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds and a dunk.
Brian Kessler had yet another strong game under the boards. Playing the role of enforcer, Kessler grabbed 12 rebounds and scored 13 points. He also harassed Elderton’s Scott Craig under the basket defensively in the first half.
Ray Roskos had probably his best game of the playoffs. Although he had just nine points, he hurt the Bobcats with several nice, twisting drives to the basket.
“These kids wanted it real bad and they weren’t going to be denied,” smiled Salvino. “I said if a team gets on a roll, it’s going to be tough to beat. Now we’re on a roll.”
The Greyhounds (22-5) and Bobcats (19-9) played on even terms for one quarter and were tied 19-19. After Elderton’s Scott Poloff scored the first basket of the second quarter to give the Bobcats a 21-19 lead, it was Monessen the rest of the way.
The Greyhounds ran off the next 12 points and when Bright slammed home a basket at the 5:09 mark, Monessen led 31-21. With Scott Scoring 10 points and Bright added eight, the Greyhounds opened up a 45-31 lead at intermission.
In the second half, things only got worse for Elderton. Monessen outscored the Bobcats, 25-11, in the third quarter.
Meanwhile, as the Greyhoudns ravaged his team, Elderton coach Dan Spencer sat helplessly watching.
“We were expecting a powerhouse and that’s what they were,” said Spencer.
“That’s a tough team, one of the best I’ve ever seen,” he said of the Greyhounds. “We played in a dual classification with some strong AA teams like Apollo-Ridge and Springdale. None of them could stay with Monessen the way they played tonight.”
Leading 70-42 going into the fourth quarter, the Greyhounds kept right on running. Roskos and Bright combined to score the first seven points of the quarter and the Monessen lead widened to 77-42. With both teams’ reserves finishing the game, Mopnessen outscored Elderton, 12-3, in the final 2:30 to give the Greyhounds the 36-point margin of victory.
Was this Monessen’s best effort of the season?
“That’s hard to say,” Salvino said. “We played a good game against George Jr. Republic and had a great first quarter against Forbes Road. We got on that roll and I hope we keep it going.”
Elderton was led in scoring by center Scott Craig with 27 points. Bob Merriman, who had 63 points in the Bobcats’ last two games, was held to 10 and was scoreless in the second half.
“I saw the tape of the game against Frew Mill and it wasn’t them,” said Spencer of Monessen. “It was imposters who showed up that night. I talked to a lot of coaches who told me not to watch that tape because it wasn’t the real Monessen.
“Tonight, I found that out.”
And the lion continues to roar.
PLAYOFF NOTES – Monessen will take on Elk County Christian, a 55-51 winner over Sharpsville, in the western finals on Tuesday at a site to be determined. The winner goes to Hershey for the title game. “We’re in the same spot as we were in last year,” said Salvino. “Hopefully, this year we can take it down.” … the Greyhounds forced 20 turnovers and scored 28 points off their fast break. IN the last two games, they have forced 48 turnovers and have 60 fast-break points. … Since Malinchak went 2 for 7 from the foul line in the 64-61 loss to Frew Mill, he has been on fire from the charity stripe. (After his 8 for 8), he is 24 for 28 in the PIAA playoffs.

Box score
Monessen 19 26 25 27 – 97
Elderton 19 12 11 19 – 61